Escalator cleaning means



Nov. 11, 1952 o. HOHNECKER 2,617,515

ESCALATOR CLEANING MEANS Filed June 11, 1947 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 INVENTOR. 0770 Ho/mec/fer ATT NEYS Nov. 11, 1952 QHOHNECKER 2,6 7,

- ESCALATOR CLEANING MEANS Filed June 11, 1947 2'SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. Offo Ho/mec/(er Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED rs TATES rare-NT lorries Ottoiiohnecker; Toledo, 0hio,:assignor to flaugh- :ton Elevator Company, Toledo,-Qhio,;a corpo- ..;ration o Qhio Application June "11 1947, fSeliaI ;No. 753331 Cl. 1'98,1fi)

5 Claims. *1;

This invention :relates toescal-ators or moving stairway-s and more particularly to "means for cleaning and removing accumulated dust and dirtirom theinterior of the-supporting structure of-an-escalator.

'A modern escalator consists of a plurality -of step treads each mounted 'on-a: cart which travels on "a loop track and is moved by a continuous drive chain to which it is attached. Because passengers on the-esoalator often: enter it directly fromout of'doors and because of the number .of passengers who ride on an escalator, a considerable quantity of dust, dirt, small particles of paper ci-garette butts, etc.,-falls on the treads or stepsorbetween the edges of successive steps or-between the lateral edges of the steps and'the balustradingan'd thereby siftso-r is carriedinto the interior of the structure housing the machiner-y 'f-or-operating the escalator.

In order to provide a continuously moving stairway, each individual step after passing over the exposed portion of the escalator for carrying a passenger-mustreturn to the otherend of the escalator -=structure where it again comes into position 'for -car-rying a passenger up or down asithe caseimayibe. r'such dirt or other- -refuse.-,as

collects :ton r.the aescalator steps .is, :therefore, de-

DOSitfidliflSidElOflthB? mechanism framework-when theastepsare :invertedcomthe return span of the track.

(Because ;.the .pinteriors of ,most department stores where escalators are frequently used 3,118

carpeted, the lint which adheresrtothe shoes-of customers 5 d passengers drops .;down between the-ste s V ...d the a-lustradinginto the interior of rthe mechanism gradually sifting down until it lands onnwhatever surface may lie beneath the escalator machinery. There it gradually becomes saturated :withoil andgrease dripping from portionssoi .theescalator machinery and. becomes :a

highlyrdangerous fire hazard.

'Ihisaaccumulation of ref-use issubstantial and its removal presents .several :difiicult problems. Because it .is vdesirable to make the structure of ithesescalatorsas small aspossible. and thereby to occnpy asnlittlehspace in the building as possible and, "because of .thehneed .for avoiding the use .of iunduly large machinery, the interioro'f an escalator ,mechanism is somewhat crowded and "crampedmaking it almost impossible ,for a workman :to pass through the interior of the structure in order to clean out the refuseifallin ofi bet-ween and around the steps. "Even though a workman who is employedto clean the;interior of anescalator-may-be small enough so that he eon-pass down throughthe inclined-interior ofthe escalator, access-to the space between the upper carrying span 'and the fiat surface be.- neath the lower return span of the "steps can only be accomplished 'by'the removal of several step carts to afford an aperture through which the workman can enter the interior of the structure. Removal of the ca-rts is a laborious task and-after the step carts have beenremoved and the workman has entered the interior of the structure the problemis-not solved because in order-for the workman to'reac-h andclean'structu-ral members lying beneath the return span of the escalator, it isnecessary that the'space between the steps (which was created :by theremoval of theseveral step carts) "be moved along slowly down the return span of "the escalator to provide an opening through which the workman can reach the surfacestobe cleaned. This'necessity for runningthe-escalatorwhile the workman is attempting to move down its inclined, cramped interior --creates tremendous danger to the work man and high liability of injury.

It is the pr-incipalobject ofthis invention to provide means by which the accumulation-of refuse a-nd-dust falling off escalator stepsontheir return-span can be removed-easily without danger and :without requiring a workman to *pass through the--esealator--structure.

f-This object and more specific objects and advantages will be apparent .from the drawings, in which:

Figure '11 is :a somewhat diagrammatic view in elevation with parts broken away and parts shown insection of a single flight of an escalator illustrating-generally the operation-of such a device and showing apparatus embodying the invention in use therewith.

Figure .II .is .a fragmentary vertical sectional view 10f ;cle..aning :means embodying the invention 23111121 :taken substantially from :the position nd cated-ibv-.the.;line II II of Fleur-e137;

Fi ure is :a plan :view of one of the step carts in thepositiqnassumed on the return fli ht of the escalatorand illustra'tingqspecifieally mechanism' embodyingqthe invention.

i u e IV is a f a m ntary vertica sectional view Y taken substantiall-y from the positiongindicated'bythe 1-ine1IV-- IV of Figure 'Iandshowing a step c-art on-the return-flight of the e scalat'or.

ur V i a r iewesim to E ghteen bu -9. a slightlylsma lfi s a e i' nstr tinaa seconslr im bodiment. of .the .-,invention. a v

In i u I here ar -il ust a ed- 1 l. simplified mann r..the.-e s n ia :s1 m o an escalator. jIheseelements ncludeca' main frame l which forms the support for a pair of continuous double tracks 2 and 3. The main frame I is connected to an upper landing frame 4 and a lower landing frame 5. Located in the interior of the upper landing frame 4 is a main driving shaft 6 on which is mounted a pair of drivin sprockets I and which is driven by a source of power such as an electric motor (not shown). In the interior of the lower landing frame 5 there is mounted a cross shaft 8 on which is supported a frame structure supporting the loops formed in the tracks 2 and 3 for carrying the escalator members around the lower end of the escalator structure. The tracks 2 and 3 at the lower landing are formed in continuous loops around the cross shaft 8. Main driving chains 9 are engaged in the sprockets I providing a continuous motion imparting means for a plurality of step carts III on which passengers are carried between the lower and the upper landings. The cross shaft 8 may be supported on a horizontally movable structure to permit adjustment of its position and thus adjustment in the length of the step chains to accommodate different numbers of step carts thereby meeting any fi-oor height at the lower landing without the necessity of changing the inclination of the main frame of the escalator.

Each of the step carts II) has a tread I I which is supported upon a frame I2 (Figure IV) and is equipped with four wheels, consisting of a pair of rear wheels I3 and a pair of front wheels I4. The wheels I4 run in the double track 3 and the wheels I3 run in the double track 2. These tracks lie side by side substantially in the same inclined plane on the uppermost exposed span of the escalator, and the main frame I2 of the step cart and its brackets are so constructed that the steps t'hen assume positions as shown at the upper portion of Figure I. The two tracks 2 and 3 are concentrically curved around the cross shaft 8 at the lower landing and the track 2 is concentrically curved around the drive shaft 6 at the upper landing. In the return span of the escalator the tracks 2 and 3 are spaced one above the other (see Figure IV) so that the treads II of the escalator steps present a nearly continuous flat surface thereby decreasing the space necessary for the installation of the escalator.

. Each of the step carts I is attached to each of the driving chains 9 by means of yokes I5 (Figure IV) which form a part of the chains 9 and which are secured to axles I6 of the front wheels Whatever dust, dirt, lint or other refuse has fallen between the ste s or between the steps and the balustradin and such refuse and dirt as has collected in the treads II moving on the carrying span of the escalator, falls downwardly through the interior of the escalator frame. In an escalator equipped with the instant invention a drip pan I1 is provided which overlies the area over which the steps pass in the return span. The pan H (see Figure IV) has a channelled cross section and is supported by resting on the upper surface of the cross frame beams or girders I8 of the frame. The pan IT has a smooth upper surface and may beconstructed in sections, the ends of which preferably should be shingled. The uppermost portion I9 of the pan Il may be located on the exterior of the upper landing frame 4 so that it can easily be removed to permit greater access to the interior of the upper landing structure or the pan Il may be welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the upper landing frame 4 thus serving as a structural member itself. Therefore, its lowermost end loosely overlies the uppermost end of the second section of the pan II having a turned down lip 20 to form a substantially continuous surface. Other sections of the pan H which need not be removable may be merely lapped and, if desired, can be welded in place as shown at the joint 2I in Figure I. The substantially continuous dust and oil collectin pan which thus lies beneath the escalator steps on their return span catches the accumulation of dust, oil and refuse which otherwise would fall among the inaccessible and hard to clean structural members of the escalator framework and of the building itself. The pan alone, however, does not completely solve the problem because means must be provided to remove the refuse from the pan.

In the instant invention this problem is solved by the provision of a removable sweeper which can be attached at will to any one of the step carts I0 and carried down the return span of the escalator by the movement of the step cart so as to sweep the pan I1 and collect all the refuse thereon at the lower landing of the escalator where it can be removed easily through an access panel 22, for xample.

A sweeper embodying the invention may consist of a fiat brush plate or other structure 23 to which is attached a plurality of brushes 24. Each of the brushes 24 should be removably secured to the plate 23 so that as its bristles are worn by passing over the pan, each individual brush can be quickly and easily replaced. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings the brushes 24 are mounted on the plate 23 to form a scoop having an open bottom and an open front so that dust and refuse lying on the pan I1 is scooped into the brush and carried down to the bottom landing. Therefore, brushes 24 are mounted at the ends of the plate 23 and completely across the back edge of the plate 23 (see Figure III). In addition, it may be desirable to mount two strips of brushes 2'4 laterally across the plate to form additional sweeping members 25 (as shown in Figures II and III).

At each side of the forward edge of the plate 23 there may be welded or otherwise secured a clevis 26 in which is pivot-ally mounted a link bar 21. At the forward end of each of the link bars 21 is secured a yoke 28 each of which is positionable around one of the front axles I6 at the side of any one of the step carts I0. The yokes 28 are of such size as to freely embrace the axles to which they are connectable and, therefore, the entire sweeper structure is pivotally connected to that one of the carts I0 to which it is attached and the brush plate 23 is pivotally connected to the ends of the link bars 21. These pivotal connections permit the brush to change position as necessary to follow along cleaning and sweeping the upper surface of the pan and pass-. ing easily over the joints therein.

When it is desired to sweep the pan I! a workman at the upper landing 4 stops the escalator and, opening an access port, places the sweeper in position on the upper landing pan and connects the yokes 28 to the front axles I6 of what-Q ever one of the step carts II) is about to leave the circular portion of the tracks 2 and 3 and move down the return span of the escalator. He then starts the escalator and, as the step cart to which the sweeper is connected moves down the return span, the brushes 24sweep the surface of the pan I'I carrying the refuse accumulated thereon down to the lower landing. A second workman waiting at the lower landing stops the escalator when the brush has completed its trip, disconnect-s the yokes 28 from the axles l6 and removes the sweeper through the lower access port 22. All of the refuse which had accumulated on the pan I! since the previous cleaning can then be gathered and removed through the access port 22 and the escalator is ready for fur- V ther service.

By the provision of the pan I! in position to catch the miscellaneous refuse which sifts between the structural members of the escalator and the oil and grease which drips off the machinery and which then can be easily and quickly swept to an accessible location by mechanism constructed in accordance with the modification of the invention above described, the maintenance of an escalator machine in safe working condition is greatly facilitated and such small items of refuse as may adhere to the surfaces of the steps easily can be cleaned therefrom as the steps are exposed during the lift span of the escalator.

In Figure V there is illustrated a sweeper comprising another modification of the invention and which employs the vacuum principle for sweeping the surface of the dust and refuse pan H. The sweeper illustrated in Figure V has a main housing 29 in which is mounted a motor and blower fan (not shown) which creates suction to clean refuse off the pan [1 and blow such refuse into a collecting bag 30 connected to the sweeper housing 29. The housing 29 is provided with casters or rollers 3| so that it will roll down the inclined pan IT. The housing 29 is connectable to any one of the step carts by means of links 32 similar to the links 27 illustrated in Figure II and provided with detachable yokes 33 similar to the yokes 28.

The particular types, forms or shapes of the sweepers disclosed in the drawings; the particular structures by which they are connected to step carts; or the particular form and location of the dust and oil collecting pan do not in themselves constitute the instant invention and such other types, styles, shapes, structures and forms as may be desired or may be adapted can be employed well within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims which set forth the essential novelty of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. Means for collecting dust and refuse from the interior of an escalator structure having a frame, a track loop with lifting and return spans therein and a plurality of step carts movable along said track, said step carts being inverted as they move to the return span comprising, in combination, a catch pan supported on horizontal cross frame members of said structure and extending beneath the return span of said track for catching dust and refuse sifting into said structure and cascading off said step carts as they are inverted and as they pass along the return span of said track, and a pan sweeper comprising a body, and links means connected thereto, the ends of said link means having disengageable fittings for pivotally connecting said link means and said sweeper to any one of said step carts, said sweeper, when connected being movable along said pan with that one of said step carts to which it is attached for collecting such dust and refuse.

2. Means for collecting dust and refuse from the interior of an escalator structure having a frame, a track loop with lifting and return spans therein and a plurality of step carts movable along said track, said step carts being inverted as they move to the return span comprising, in combination, a catch pan supported on horizontal cross frame members of said structure and extending beneath the return span of said track for catching dust and refuse sifting into said structure and cascading off said step carts as they are inverted and as they pass along the return span of said track, and a sweeper comprising a brush mounting body, and link means pivotally connected thereto, the ends of said link means having disengageable fittings for pivotally connecting said link means and said sweeper to any one of said step carts, said sweeper, when connected, being movable along said pan with that one of said step carts to which it is attached for collecting such dust and refuse at one end of said escalator.

3. Dust collecting means for an escalator having a track with a return span, a plurality of step carts movable along said track and being in inverted position when moved along said return span and a catch pan extending beneath the return path of said carts along said return span comprising, a brush extending substantially across said pan, link means connected to said brush, and disconnectable means mounted on said link means for connecting said brush to any one of said step carts.

4. A sweeper for an escalator dust pan lying beneath the path of movement of the escalator step carts comprising, a body, a plurality of brushes mounted on said body and extending substantially across said pan, a pair of links connected to said body near the ends thereof, and disconnectable yokes on said links for removably attaching said sweeper to any one of said step carts.

5. In an escalator, in combination, a track with a return span, a plurality of step carts movable along said track, said step carts being inverted when moved along said return span, a dust collecting pan extending beneath said return span, and a sweeper for said pan, said sweeper having a body, a plurality of brushes mounted on said body and extending substantially across said pan, a pair of links pivotally connected to said body, and disconnectable yokes on said links for removably attaching said sweeper to any selected one of said step carts.

OTTO HOHNECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 196,150 Isaacs Oct. 16, 1877 582,099 Salisbury May 4, 1897 694,372 Goetz Mar. 4, 1902 1,596,997 Rawlings Aug. 24, 1926 1,956,155 Lindquist et al Apr. 24, 1934 1,984,801 Lindquist Dec. 18, 1934 2,060,491 Dunlop Nov. 10, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 524,912 France Sept. 13, 1921 

